Improvement in fruit-baskets



0. A. NORTH.

improvement in Fruit-Baskets.

Patented Aug. 27, I872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OBRIN A. NORTH, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BASKET COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT m FRUIT-BASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,937, dated August 27', 187-2.

7 splints upon the outside, placed and tacked so as to leave a seam in the center for shrinkageas hereafter described.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a perspective view of a box which embodies my invention, said box being represented bottom side upward.

I construct my box from three splints of thin wood or veneer, d B B. The splint dis as wide as is designed for the width of the bottom of the box, and is solid for a distance. equal to its width. The splints B B are each one-half the width designed for the bottom of the box, and solid for a distance equal to twice their width. The splints d B B are each scored or bruised, for bending up the ends at C, to form the sides of the box, in the ordinary manner. To facilitate in bending the ends-of the splints to form the box, they are put together and bent while wet or green. After obtaining the green or wet splints d B B I proceed as follows: Lay the splints B B transversely with the splint d, and with the edges of the splints B B fitting close together at the center of the bottom. Then secure the splints B B to the splint d by means of a tack, a, inserted near the outer edge of the splints B B, as shown. The sides of the box are then formed by bending the splints at C, and securing the same by a proper band, H, in the ordinary manner of making this class of boxes. The box is then laid away to season, during which process the veneers will shrink and draw toward the tacks a a, and make a seam or opening through the middle of the bottom, as shown in the drawing; but by being nailed near the outer edge, the splints cannot shrink away from each other at the corners and leave an opening thereat of such size as to allow the fruit to fall out at said openings, as is the case with baskets in which the bottom is formed of two solid splints. The bottom of the box is also very smooth, and therefore is less liable to catch upon obstacles and tear up the bottom.

After the wood composing the box is thoroughly seasoned, a tack maybe passed through the inner edge of the splints B B, if desired.

I disclaim the invention of Charles A. Blair, for fruit-box, as shown in the patent to him dated May 7, 1872.

I claim as my invention- The improved fruit-box in which the bottom is composed of the splints d and B B, the latter tacked near their outer edge, so as to leave the shrinkage-seam at the middle of the bottom and insure a proper-sized opening at the corners, in the particular manner herein shown and described.

ORRIN A. NORTH.

Witnesses:

LUorUs Gr. ROSSETTER, C. W. DEMING. 

